21. The Millennium

The Bible clearly teaches a future, one
thousand year reign of Christ from the restored throne of David in Jerusalem. This coming dispensation is referred to as the Millennium. In Revelation 20:1-7
the thousand-year reign is mentioned six times.

A future kingdom on earth

When the Lord Jesus comes back to earth it
will be as “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16) to set up a kingdom
for the entire world (Rev. 11:15). In a major end-time prophecy Daniel likened
Christ’s Second Coming to the effect of a great stone smiting the kingdoms of
the world, pulverising them to chaff carried on the wind, then becoming a great
mountain filling the whole earth, replacing them with His kingdom (Dan.
2:34-35; 44-45). Zechariah says that He shall be King over all the earth (Zech.
14:9). This is similar to the prophecy about the Lord Jesus reigning as King,
which was given before His birth to Mary (Luke 1:31-32). The throne of David is
not in heaven but on earth. Jesus does not reign in a literal sense from the
throne of David now as this throne has, since the Babylonian captivity, been
temporarily in suspension. Christ will restore this throne at His Second Coming
and then reign from it (Acts 15:16-17).

The elders in heaven (the glorified saints)
are aware they will return with Christ and reign with Him in His earthly
kingdom (Rev. 5:9-10; cf. 2 Tim. 2:12). It is therefore clearly evident
that the events of Revelation coincide with a strong proclamation of the
Kingship of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:10). When Jesus, our High Priest who now
intercedes for us at the throne of the Father, returns to earth, the power and
influence of Satan here will be broken and the kingdom of Christ established.
The devil will then no longer be the ruler and god of this present evil world
(John 14:30; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:12; 1 John 5:19).

A further proof that the millennial reign
is not in heaven is that in this dispensation there will still be inherent
carnality and disorderliness among the nations, which will necessitate that
they be ruled with a strong hand. Although Satan will be bound and prohibited
from deceiving the nations into committing rebellious deeds, they will still
have fallen natures that need to be disciplined. In Revelation 12:5 and 19:15
it is plainly stated that Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron. His
faithful servants will also share in this rule (Rev. 2:25-27).

During the Millennium, the throne of the
Lord Jesus in Jerusalem will be meeting-point between heaven and earth, and
therefore a centre of divine wisdom, authority and a government of
righteousness (Isa. 2:2-4; 24:23; Zech. 8:22). A situation such as this, in
which no wars are waged, no military training is done and no weapons are
manufactured, has never before prevailed on earth. It can only apply to a
future reign of peace. Since the devil will be bound during the thousand-year
reign of Christ he will be unable to deceive the nations, and there will be
neither violence nor warfare. Other forms of sin will also vanish and the whole
world will recognise and practise the Christian religion exclusively (Isa.
11:9). Even the animal creation will benefit and predation will cease
(Isa.11:6-7). Jerusalem will be spontaneously recognised as capital of the
world by all people, and no hostility or political tension will prevail between
individual nations (Jer. 3:17).

Laxity will be the only form of misconduct
that will occur as some nations will neglect their duties to serve the Lord as
they should. It will still be a matter of “the spirit indeed is willing but the
flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). Their neglect will give rise to rebukes from the
King and punitive measures (Zech. 14:16-17).

During this time there will be an unsaved
remnant of the nations on earth who will be mortal people of flesh and blood.
Due to their sinful nature they will still have to be saved to truly belong to
the Lord Jesus. According to Zechariah 14:16-17 they will survive the great
tribulation and the battle of Armageddon. Although they did not receive the
number of the Antichrist they also do not belong to Christ until they have
received Him as their Saviour. The Bible indicates that a small remnant of Israel and the nations will be saved directly after the Second Coming of Christ (Zech.
12:10-14; 13:1,9; Matt. 24:30-31).

That means that the Millennium will begin
with a first generation of Christians. Because mortal people will still have
their Adamic nature which is inclined to sin, new generations will, as now, be
born unsaved and will need to be born again spiritually to become children of
God. To evangelise them, will be the task of the Jewish evangelists of Israel who will also be mortal but saved people. They will gather a harvest for the kingdom of God among all nations (Isa. 27:6). A study of Revelation 20 clearly reveals that
in course of time fewer members of the upcoming generations will be saved. When
the devil is released after his captivity of one thousand years, millions of
unsaved people will be drawn to him and fall into his power (Rev. 20:7-9).

The first resurrection

The doctrine of the two resurrections is
also clearly related to the Millennium. Only those who have part in the first
resurrection (Luke 14:14; 1 Thess. 4:16), including O.T. believers and those
saved during the tribulation, will rule with Christ. The resurrection of the
just must occur before the millennial reign of Christ. To be worthy for it will
be a great blessing and something worth exerting yourself (Rev. 20:6; Phil.
3:11-12). The rest of the dead are the unsaved multitude of all centuries, and
they will not be resurrected until the thousand years have ended (Rev. 20:5).
They will then appear before the great white throne to be judged and condemned
to the eternal lake of fire.

Characteristics of the millennial reign

The following are the most important
characteristics of the future Millennium:

God will rule on earth through His King of
kings, Jesus Christ (Luke 1:31-33; Rev. 19:15; Isa. 11:5-16). The throne of
Christ will be in Jerusalem (Zech. 8:22; Isa. 2:2-3; 24:23). His government
will be characterised by righteousness (Isa. 1:26-27; Jer. 23:5-6). There will
be no warfare (Isa. 2:4; Micah 5:4). Satan will be securely bound so that he
cannot deceive the nations (Rev. 20:1-4). The saved remnant of Israel will rejoice in the Lord and evangelise the entire world (Isa. 12:3-6; 27:6; 40:9).
They will make the world fruitful (Isa. 27:6) and God will be honoured (Isa.
28:5; Zech. 8:20-23). The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea (Isa. 11:9-10; Hab. 2:14). There will be no disease
(Isa. 33:24). People will live healthily to a great age. A 100 year-old person
will be regarded as a child (Isa. 65:20-23). Nature will be set free from the
bondage of corruption into glorious liberty (Rom. 8:19-22; Isa. 41:18-20). Times
of economic prosperity will dawn (Amos 9:13-14; Joel 3:18; Isa. 65:21-23).
Harmony will prevail in the animal kingdom because the Lord will make a new
covenant with them (Isa. 11:6-9; 65:25; Hos. 2:18).

Israel’s position in the
Millennium

Israel’s position
during the coming Messianic era is frequently described in the Old Testament
where it is specifically related to the day of the Lord. It will be a time of
great blessing, abundance, joy in the Lord and peace on earth. Israel will fulfil its original destiny and potential as a people of God and be a nation
through whom He will bless the whole earth. Paul says of them: “Now if their
fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles,
how much more their fullness! … For if their being cast away is the
reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life
from the dead?” (Rom. 11:12,15). Through Israel’s fall, by rejecting and
crucifying their Messiah, the gospel of reconciliation with God has been
offered not only to Jews but to Gentiles also. What a tremendous blessing that
is to the Gentiles! How much more will Israel be a blessing to the world in the
Millennium as they proclaim the Messiah’s praises among all nations! This will
be the long-delayed, but grand consummation of this unique nation’s destiny and
calling as the chosen people of God.

The following are examples of promises
about Israel’s restoration and glory in the coming Messianic era: Zech. 8:23;
Isa. 27:12; Jer. 31:6-7,31,33; Mal. 3:17; Amos 9:11-12,14-15; Micah 7:11; Jer.
31:38,40; 33:6-9,14-16; Isa. 62:6-7; Joël 3:17; Isa. 11:10,12:4, 17:7, 26:1-2,
27:6, 28:5, 30:23,25; Zeph. 3:9. These and many other blessings will be
characteristic of the Millennium when the Messiah reigns from the throne of
David in Jerusalem. His glorified saints will rule with Him and righteousness
will prevail on earth. Israel will play a leading part in world affairs and
will be God’s special representative nation among all the nations of the world.

Let us eagerly expect the Millennium that
will commence after the coming of the King, Jesus Christ. Only He can save the
remnant of Israel and of the nations (Zech. 12:10; Matt. 24:30-31), bind and
incarcerate the devil (Rev. 20:1-3), restore the throne of David (Acts 2:29-30;
15:16-17) and change everything on earth for the better. If we are prepared to
suffer now and serve the Lord in the face of much opposition (Acts 14:22), we
will accompany Him during His triumphant return (Zech. 14:4-5) and reign with
Him on earth (2 Tim. 2:12).

Above all, the most important thing about
the millennial reign is that our Lord Jesus will be completely vindicated and
glorified on this very earth where He “went about doing good and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38), yet was so disgracefully
humiliated, despised, rejected, cruelly cast out as worthless and crucified by
the fallen creatures that He, as Creator, had made. God’s answer to this is
that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess Him as
Lord (Phil. 2:6-11).

Personal commitment

I believe the promise of a future
millennial reign of peace on earth, and for that reason I am not disappointed
that similar conditions do not prevail on earth during the present dispensation
of the church. I fully realise that now we are strangers and sojourners in a
world which is to a large extent dominated and manipulated by evil powers. For
that reason, we are not kings but soldiers of the cross. We are looking forward
to the time when the Lord Jesus will return to earth as King of kings, when we
will be revealed with Him in glory (Col. 3:4). By then, the restored Israel will all be saved and serve the Lord with a pure heart among all the nations. Like
Abraham, we have a vision of the city which has foundations (the new Jerusalem),
whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10). What a heavenly expectation to
embrace, and how much more should we be dedicated to serving the Lord and doing
works that have value for eternity!

Questions

1.When does the Millennium start and how long will it last?

2.What does the Bible say about the future kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth?

3.What will the position of Jerusalem be in the Millennium?

4.What will be the most important task of the saved Israel in the Millennium?